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Camellia leaves turning brown

Ross9YRoss9Y Posts: 17
in Problem solving
Hi, hoping for some guidance on my unhappy Camellia Japonica. It was about 30cm high when we got it and we’ve now had it 6 years. It’s grown really well and flowered happily until March when I moved it - we were moving house and I was desperate to keep it, so moved it whilst in flower.

The last few weeks the gloss has drained from most of the leaves and they’re turning brown (still some glossy leaves in the lowest branches). I’ve been giving it a weekly ericaceous feed. Any hopes for getting it back to health?


Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    You've moved it during a period of great activity so it is stressed.  Spring is when they put energy into flowering as well as growing new leaves.

    I suggest you stop feeding now but keep watering it deeply - that is 15 litres at a time, once or twice a week - rather than smaller dribbles.   Pick off those remaining flower buds and make sure it doesn't go thirty all this spring and summer.   

    If you have hard tap water, use rain water or add a liquid feed for ericaceous plants that contains sequestered or chelated iron.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Frost have happened for the most of April and now into May,
    Your plant had suffered from moving and then the very cold spells.
    GQT on Radio 4 talked about this today and how many plants are suffering.
    They said do not give up as many plants will give a go again.
    We are hoping that they are correct as we are looking at many shrubs suffering from the endless frosts.
  • luis_prluis_pr Posts: 123
    edited May 2021
    Hello, rossyoung9. Transplant shock and possible weather issues might have contributed to the problems.

    Camellia roots are shallow, tiny and fibrous. They are typically located on the top 10 cms of depth only. When transplanting, try to move as many of them as possible because that is where they get water from. If the roots are disturbed enough, the plant may abort flower buds and foliage.

    Going forward, maintain the soil as evenly moist as best as you can. The chosen location already contains a lot of other plants and there may be competition for water and nutrients if these plants all have similar root systems. Camellia japonicas need morning sun only or dappled sun. Make sure that they will get shade by 10-11am or something like that.

    Fertilize when you see signs of the plant being established.

    You can remove the browned out flower buds.

    New buds will develop at the end of the summer or thereabouts. Make sure the soil is moist and there are no issues then so blooms will open in late 2021 or in 2022.

    You can remove the dead leaves if they do not fall on their own.

  • Ross9YRoss9Y Posts: 17
    Thanks all, I really appreciate the detailed replies. I’ll follow the advice. Thank you
  • Ross9YRoss9Y Posts: 17
    Quick update - interested to hear if any of the advice above changes. All
    leaves that were turning brown have now completely died. Three lower branches have very healthy, glossy leaves still on. I’ve cleared around the base and put a thick layer of bark down. Should I prune?





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They need shady conditions to do well, and morning sun is bad for them after frosts, especially on emerging buds and flowers. Late afternoon and evening sun is fine, so ideally, a west facing site with shade from other planting is the best location. Shade from other buildings or walls is also fine as long as they have room to grow.
    It's very congested around it too - there's a lot of other planting which is all competition for water especially. These are shrubs which should become enormous over time if given the right conditions. It's right up against a wall which is also drier. 
    Don't keep feeding it, but you could prune off all the dead stuff now, and make sure it isn't going short of water. I would bet money that the soil is dry under there.
    If you can't find a better site for it, you'll have to keep it pruned all the time to stay in that space. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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